>>> nbc news correspondent richard engel explains what happened after he was kidnapped in syria for five days. good evening. i'm doreen gentzler. >> i'm jim vance. our top story at 6:00 tonight students went back to the classroom in newtown, connecticut. while more families laid more victims to rest. in the words of one high school senior, there's going to be no joy in school today. meanwhile, one elementary school in town did not open after the school received some sort of threat. the district was not taking any chances. also, as the morning continues the focus now turns to gun control. today the white house says president barack obama is actively supportive of efforts on capitol hill to reinstate an assault weapons ban. nbc's jay gray joins from us connecticut with more on the young lives buried way too soon. >> reporter: yeah, good to talk to you. as you talk about another rough day. first graders from sandy hook elementary all gathered again to lay to rest two more of their classmates while students from other schools here went back to class for the first time since the tragedy. the